Thomas Russell

Research Interests

Current Research

Polymers and block copolymers offer unique avenues for the fabrication of nanostructured materials. We have developed routes and an understanding of the mechanism by which the morphology in thin block copolymer films can be controlled with exquisite precision. This has given rise to numerous applications of polymers in current technologies. We have been recently focusing on the role of chain architecture on the lateral ordering and minimizing the size scale of the microdomains to the single nanometer level. Our efforts on the interfacial activity of nanoparticles aim to achieve multi-length scale assemblies of nanoparticles are pioneering a platform for encapsulation and diffusion barriers. We have developed nanoparticle surfactants, enabling the structuring of immiscible liquids on the mesoscale and macroscopic levels. A jamming behavior underpins the structuring of liquids into non-equilibrium shapes, including bicontinuous morphologies, the molding of liquids, and the 3D printing of all-liquid structures. We have the 3D printing all aqueous constructs, where the complexation of polyelectrolytes forms a barrier between two aqueous phases with very selective diffusion characteristics. We are integrating active materials to develop constructs the change in response to external stimuli. With highly flexible, thin sheets, we have also investigated the wrapping of liquids, based only on the reduction of interfacial energies where the shapes of the wrapped liquids can be controlled by pre-fabricating sheets polymer films into a well-defined shape. We uncovered a unique classification of wrinkle patterns that varies in a very systematic manner with film thickness. We study polymer-based photovoltaics with a focus on optimizing morphology and interlayer materials that reduce the work function of the electrodes, markedly increasing device efficiency. Using mixed donor and acceptor phases we have achieved efficiencies with efficiencies of 17+% (NREL efficiency chart). Optical, laser scanning confocal, electron and scanning force microscopies, and neutron, light and x-ray scattering (in-house, synchrotron-based, and free-electron-laser-based) are key techniques used in this research.